Partylist group Bayan Muna on Monday, March 29, slammed the killing of a union leader and a long-time labor rights activist in the province of Laguna on Sunday, March 28.
The Bayan Muna lawmakers noted the killing of Dandy Miguel, union president of Lakas ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Fuji Electric and leader of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-KMU (Pamantik-KMU), occurred three weeks after the “Bloody Sunday” raids that left nine activists dead in the Calabarzon region.
Miguel was shot dead in Calamba, Laguna around 8:45 p.m. on Sunday on the eve of the start of the government’s reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Bayan Muna vehemently condemns the killing of Pamantik-KMU leader Dandy Miguel. This is unmistakably the continuation of the Bloody Sunday raids several weeks ago that ended in the murder of nine activists and arrest of several others,” said Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite in a statement.
“Ito ba ang regalo ng mga pasistang ahente sa kanilang Pangulo, dugo ng isa na namang lider-manggagawa (Is this the birthday gift of fascist agents to their President, the blood of another labor leader)?” Gaite lamented.
"It seems that they have now shifted back to their practice of unleashing fascist death squads to assassinate activists since their modus operandi of launching bloody raids and fake searches for planted weapons have been widely exposed and condemned,” he pointed out.
The lawmaker said Bayan Muna fears there would be a surge of attacks as the Duterte administration "takes advantage of the militarized lockdown."
“We call on the public to condemn this atrocities and remain vigilant as another militarized lockdown starts,” he said. “Let us be on the lookout for abuses, for attacks such as this, and be vocal in exposing and condemning them."
Rep. Eufemia Cullamat also condemned Miguel’s killing and reiterated the need for the public to be vigilant amid the stringent lockdown protocols this Holy Week.
Cullamat said the government should not be using the ECQ to further violate human rights and perpetuate injustices against labor leaders.
“The people are clamoring for financial assistance, mass testing, efficient contact tracing and safe vaccines for all but the government’s response to the poor is fascism and bullets,” Cullamat said in a statement in Filipino.
“If the government is trumpeting excellence in handling the pandemic, then why did we return to ECQ? It’s clear that, and nobody can deny, this government failed in its COVID-19 response,” she stressed.
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- Bayan Muna slams killing of labor leader in Laguna 3 weeks after Bloody Sunday raids. Torregoza
Partylist group Bayan Muna on Monday, March 29 slammed the killing of a union leader and a longtime labor rights activist in the province of Laguna on Sunday, March 28.
The Bayan Muna lawmakers noted the killing of Dandy Miguel, union president of Lakas ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Fuji Electric and leader of Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog Katagalugan-KMU (Pamantik-KMU), occurred three weeks after the “Bloody Sunday” raids that left nine activists dead in the Calabarzon region.
Miguel, was shot dead in Calamba, Laguna around 8:45 p.m. on Sunday on the even of the start of the government’s reimposition of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Bayan Muna vehemently condemns the killing of Pamantik-KMU leader Dandy Miguel. This is unmistakably the continuation of the Bloody Sunday raids several weeks ago that ended in the murder of nine activists and arrest of several others,” said Bayan Muna solon Ferdinand Gaite in a statement.
“Ito ba ang regalo ng mga pasistang ahente sa kanilang Pangulo, dugo ng isa na namang lider-manggagawa (Is this the birthday gift of fascist agents to their President, the blood of another labor leader)?” Gaite lamented.
“It seems that they have now shifted back to their practice of unleashing fascist death squads to assassinate activists since their modus operandi of launching bloody raids and fake searches for planted weapons have been widely exposed and condemned,” he pointed out.
The lawmaker said Bayan Muna fears there would be a surge of attacks as the Duterte administration takes advantage of the militarized lockdown.
“We call on the public to condemn this atrocities and remain vigilant as another militarized lockdown starts,” he said.
“Let us be on the lookout for abuses, for attacks such as this, and be vocal in exposing and condemning them,” he pointed out.
Rep. Eufemia Cullamat also condemned Miguel’s killing and reiterated the need for the public to be vigilant amid the stringent lockdown protocols this Holy Week.
Cullamat said the government should not be using the ECQ to further violate human rights and perpetuate injustices against labor leaders.
“The people are clamoring for financial assistance, mass testing, efficient contact tracing and safe vaccines for all but the government’s response to the poor is fascism and bullets,” Cullamat said in a statement in Filipino.
“If the government is trumpeting excellence in handling the pandemic, then why did we return to ECQ? It’s clear that, and nobody can deny, this government failed in its COVID-19 response,” she stressed.